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Rhode Island Boatyard to Reduce Air Emissions and Pay Penalty

(Boston, Mass. – May 1, 2013) – A Rhode Island boatyard will pay a $31,500 penalty and take steps to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds from paints and thinners used at its Portsmouth, R.I. facility, under a settlement with EPA to resolve allegations of Clean Air Act violations.

In addition to paying the financial penalty, New England Boatworks, Inc., which repairs and paints vessels at its boatyard in Portsmouth, will obtain a Clean Air Act permit from the State of Rhode Island that caps the facility’s emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and requires use of paints and other coatings that meet low-VOC standards. New England Boatworks will also comply with applicable recordkeeping and certification requirements.

Paint used by New England Boatworks emitted excess levels of VOCs, which can cause human health problems and which also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, a primary constituent of smog.

Under its permit, the company will use low-VOC solvents and paints that comply with regulatory limits for VOCs. In addition, the company will use paint spray guns with high transfer efficiencies, implement best work practices to minimize VOC emissions from painting and cleanup, and implement required recordkeeping and reporting requirements.